Democracy Now! Top US & World Headlines — January 7, 2021

Opinion: Impeach and Convict. Right Now.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Trump is too dangerous to leave in office for even another minute.

It wasn’t hard to see, when it began, that it would end exactly the way it has. Donald Trump is America’s willful arsonist, the man who lit the match under the fabric of our constitutional republic.

The duty of the House of Representatives and the Senate, once they certify Joe Biden’s election, is to reconvene, Wednesday night if possible, to impeach the president and then remove him from office and bar him from ever holding office again.

To allow Trump to serve out his term, however brief it may be, puts the nation’s safety at risk, leaves our reputation as a democracy in tatters and evades the inescapable truth that the assault on Congress was an act of violent sedition aided and abetted by a lawless, immoral and terrifying president.

From the moment Trump became the G.O.P. front-runner in 2015, it was obvious who he was and where, if given the chance, he would take America. He was a malignant narcissist in his person. A fraudster in his businesses. A bully in his relationships. And a demagogue in his politics. » | Bret Stephens, Opinion Columnist | Wednesday, January 6, 2021

How Has the World Reacted to Trump Supporters Storming US Capitol? | DW News

Leaders around the world watched in disbelief as the chaos unfolded in Washington, where supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol.

Many have condemned the violence and called for democracy to be respected. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron gave their reactions, and DW spoke to people on the street in Germany.

Around the world, there was disbelief at the scenes that unfolded in the Capitol:

- Germany's Bild newspaper talked of a "coup attempt" - and a "moment of great shame"

- In Britain, The Daily Telegraph minced no words: "Democracy under siege"

- The picture of Trump supporters storming the Capitol dominated the United Arab Emirates' Gulf News daily.

- The Nigerian Tribune offered this blistering verdict: "Trump supporters defile democracy."

- China compared the storming of the Capitol with pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

Chaos at the Capitol | Live | The Choice on Peacock

Zerlina Maxwell, Joshua Johnson, and Mehdi Hasan cover the storming of the U.S. Capitol. Zerlina. airs 6 p.m. ET weeknights on Peacock: Incisive and timely coverage of politics and current events, through in-depth conversations that unpack the latest developments in this era's breakneck news cycle and draw back the curtain on their real-world consequences.

'Trump Blows Up US Democracy': The World Watches on in Horror

THE GUARDIAN: Leaders from nations around the world condemn ‘shocking scenes’ unfolding at US Capitol

World leaders from Dublin to Ottawa reacted with shock and disquiet to the turmoil in Washington DC on Wednesday, with the head of Nato deploring what he called “shocking scenes”.

“The outcome of this democratic election must be respected,” Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary general and former Norwegian prime minister, tweeted on Wednesday evening after US president-elect Joe Biden condemned “this godawful display” and warned: “The world is watching.”

The Irish taoiseach Micheál Martin tweeted: “The Irish people have a deep connection with the United States of America, built up over many generations. I know that many, like me, will be watching the scenes unfolding in Washington DC with great concern and dismay.” » | Tom Phillips | Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Nach Polterrede des amtierenden Präsidenten: Trump-Anhänger stürmen das US-Kapitol in Washington

TAGES ANZEIGER: Vor der Bestätigung der Ergebnisse der Präsidentenwahl im Kongress und nach einer Rede von Trump ist es vor dem Kapitol in Washington zu Ausschreitungen gekommen. Die Sitzung ist unterbrochen.
» | Vincenzo Capodici | Mittwoch, 6. Januar 2021

Lockdown Catch-22: Weight Gain Can Increase Covid Severity | COVID-19 Special

Staying at home during a lockdown - with lots of time to eat and not move at the same time. No wonder many people all over the world have gained weight during the pandemic. And while it's a stretch from too much comfort eating to downright gluttony, too much body fat is bad for our health. In fact, those additional pounds can increase our risk of severe illness from Covid-19. Excess weight has always been a health risk. In times of the coronavirus pandemic, it could be lethal.

Strict Covid Restrictions Could Last Months, Boris Johnson Signals

THE GUARDIAN: PM says lifting lockdown is subject to ‘lots of caveats’ as figures show 1m people in England have Covid

Britain could face harsh restrictions for many months to come, Boris Johnson and his chief scientists warned as figures suggested more than 1 million people in England are infected with coronavirus, or one in every 50.

The prime minister said the plan to emerge from a newly-imposed national lockdown in mid-February was subject to “lots of caveats, lot of ifs”. He refused to guarantee that children would be fully back at school before the summer, calling this a “fundamental hope”. » | Jessica Elgot and Peter Walker | Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Cooper on Trump Call: It's Like Speaking to a Child

CNN's Anderson Cooper examines the call between President Donald Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in which the President urged Raffensperger to "find" votes to overturn the election results.

WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Extradition Blocked by British Judge | DW News

A British judge has ruled that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange cannot be extradited to the United States to face espionage charges. The judge said extradition would be "oppressive" to his mental health. Supporters celebrated the verdict outside the courthouse in central London. Assange would have faced up to 175 years in prison if convicted of violating the US Espionage Act. In 2010, he released thousands of classified US military files online. The Australian was first arrested in Britain ten years ago, and sought asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy for seven years. His lawyers have consistently argued that Assange was acting as a journalist and is entitled to freedom of speech protections.

The Guardian View on Trump's Strategy: Overturn Result, Cheat Democracy

THE GUARDIAN: The US president is seeking to bring down a system that defeated him

This week, Donald Trump will undermine democracy in the US by supporting the claim that Democrat Joe Biden did not fairly win last November’s presidential election. A peaceful handover of power in a democracy requires losing candidates and their followers to admit defeat. But Mr Trump has manufactured a controversy purely to maintain power and to overturn a legitimate election.

US courts have repeatedly thrown out Mr Trump’s evidence-free cases. This has not stopped the president’s accomplices in Congress. They, backed by Mr Trump’s vice-president, on Wednesday plan to challenge Mr Biden’s win to force a debate and votes in Congress. Some scholars point to a historical precedent as offering a slim, perhaps vanishing, chance that the nightmare will continue. Mr Trump will not let an opportunity pass to relitigate an election he lost. » | Editorial | Sunday, January 3, 2021

Trump Phone Call: Georgia Officials Shut Down Election Fraud Claims

Astonishing new evidence of a desperate President Donald Trump caught on tape trying to steal the election exposes the depth of his corruption and makes his Republican Capitol Hill allies complicit in his bid to thwart the will of voters.

In a fresh abuse of power, Trump tried to bully a top Georgia GOP official into finding votes to overturn President-elect Joe Biden's win in the state. The staggering telephone call, audio of which was obtained by CNN and first reported by The Washington Post, amounted to the most serious threat yet posed by his authoritarian instincts to American democracy.

Even before the latest outrage, this week already marked a watershed moment for Biden's coming presidency, a ruptured Republican Party and the integrity of the US political system.

The Observer View on How the West Should Deal with Rising China

THE GUARDIAN: Xi Jinping’s expansionist policies abroad and dictatorship at home make pressing the need for new geopolitical strategy

How to deal with China is the biggest geopolitical challenge facing Britain and the western democracies in 2021 – and one to which they have, as yet, supplied no coherent answer. China’s influence is growing rapidly around the world. It is predicted to overtake the US as the biggest economy by 2028. Its politicians, diplomats and military chiefs exhibit the bullish assertiveness of a new imperial superpower. This, they believe, is China’s moment.

At the same time, China is increasingly distrusted and disliked. A recent Pew global attitudes survey found negative views to be at an all-time high in Germany, South Korea and other advanced economies. Nearly three-quarters of Americans and Britons view China unfavourably, up from 35% and 16% respectively in 2002. Trust in China’s president, Xi Jinping, “to do the right thing in world affairs” has plummeted.

China’s overweening ambition and this concomitant rise in hostility are both relatively new. In Britain’s case, it is only five years since David Cameron hailed the dawn of a “golden era”. Back then, it seemed China’s strength, measured in hi-tech, investment and trade, could be safely harnessed to the UK’s advantage. Such collaboration, it was fondly believed, would ultimately hasten China’s transition from one-party state to democracy. » | Observer editorial | Sunday, January 3, 2021

Britain Opens Door to Mix-and-Match Vaccinations, Worrying Experts

THE NEW YORK TIMES: If a second dose of one vaccine isn’t available, another may be substituted, according to the guidelines.

Amid a sputtering vaccine rollout and fears of a new and potentially more transmissible variant of the coronavirus, Britain has quietly updated its vaccination playbook to allow for a mix-and-match vaccine regimen. If a second dose of the vaccine a patient originally received isn’t available, or if the manufacturer of the first shot isn’t known, another vaccine may be substituted, health officials said.

The new guidance contradicts guidelines in the United States, where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted that the authorized Covid-19 vaccines “are not interchangeable,” and that “the safety and efficacy of a mixed-product series have not been evaluated. Both doses of the series should be completed with the same product.”

Some scientists say Britain is gambling with its new guidance. “There are no data on this idea whatsoever,” said John Moore, a vaccine expert at Cornell University. Officials in Britain “seem to have abandoned science completely now and are just trying to guess their way out of a mess.” » | Katherine J. Wu | Friday, January 1, 2021

‘Global Britain’ Is Willing to Trade Away Everything. Including Scruples

THE GUARDIAN: The UK’s new deal with Turkey ignores appalling human rights abuses and should have been scrutinised by parliament

The UK’s new trade agreement with Turkey, signed last week, ignores the Turkish government’s continuing human rights abuses, boosts its dangerous president, and undermines ministerial pledges that “global Britain” will uphold international laws and values. The deal took effect on 1 January without even rudimentary parliamentary scrutiny. Here, stripped of lies and bombast, is the dawning reality of Boris Johnson’s scruple-free post-Brexit world.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey’s “strongman” leader, is pleased as punch. He’s the new, biggest fan of Britain’s international trade secretary, Liz Truss, whose shabby work this is. Erdoğan hailed the deal as the start of a “new era” and a landmark for Turkey. After years of disastrous economic mismanagement and fierce rows with the US and EU over Turkish policy towards Russia, Syria, Libya, Greece and Cyprus, Erdoğan badly needed a win. Hapless Truss delivered.

The fact that Johnson used the spectre of Turkish migrants to frighten Leave voters in 2016 appears forgotten now. His government has created a favourable bilateral trade framework, and promised bespoke “upgrades”, to a leader who frequently mocks the EU and faces possible European trade sanctions. How does that square with Johnson’s vow to be “the best friend and ally the EU could have”? The level playing field is already tipping. » | Simon Tisdall | Sunday, January 3, 2021

Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell's Homes Vandalised

BBC: Vandals in the US have attacked the homes of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell.

Fake blood and a severed pig's head were reportedly left outside Democrat Ms Pelosi's California house, which was also daubed with graffiti.

The words "where's my money" and some expletives were scrawled on on Republican Mr McConnell's house in Kentucky.

It comes amid a political battle over a coronavirus stimulus package. » | Saturday, January 2, 2021

Mitch McConnell and Nancy Pelosi homes vandalised in Covid protests »

Opinion: The Wreckage Betsy DeVos Leaves Behind

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The Education Department lies in ruins right when it’s needed most.

The departing education secretary, Betsy DeVos, will be remembered as perhaps the most disastrous leader in the Education Department’s history. Her lack of vision has been apparent in a variety of contexts, but never more so than this fall when she told districts that were seeking guidance on how to operate during the coronavirus pandemic that it was not her responsibility to track school district infection rates or keep track of school reopening plans. This telling remark implies a vision of the Education Department as a mere bystander in a crisis that disrupted the lives of more than 50 million schoolchildren. » | The Editorial Board | Saturday, January 2, 2021

An Embattled Public Servant in a Fractured France

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Nicolas Cadène sees the failings of France’s secular model even as he upholds it.

PARIS — France is in theory a nondiscriminatory society where the state upholds strict religious neutrality and people are free to believe, or not, in any God they wish. It is a nation, in its self image, that through education dissolves differences of faith and ethnicity in a shared commitment to the rights and responsibilities of French citizenship.

This model, known as laïcité, often inadequately translated as secularism, is embraced by a majority of French people. They or their forebears became French in this way. No politician here would utter the words “In God we trust.” The Roman Catholic Church was removed more than a century ago from French public life. The country’s lay model supplants any deity.

But, in a country with an uneasy relationship to Islam, laïcité is also contested as the shield behind which France discriminates against its large Muslim population and avoids confronting its prejudices. As a result, the job of Nicolas Cadène, a mildly disheveled official with a mop of brown hair and multiple law degrees, has become a focus of controversy. » | Roger Cohen | Friday, January 1, 2021

Lire en français »

Opinion: Britain Has Lost Itself

THE NEW YORK TIMES: My grandparents, who fled Nazi Germany for Britain, would be heartbroken to see the country today.

At long last, it happened.

Shortly before midnight on Thursday, Britain completed its exit from the European Union, replacing a close 47-year long relationship with the continent with something far more distant. Now it will have to live through difficult years of separation that will sap its political vibrancy and diminish its role on the world stage. Though a trade deal was belatedly agreed, the economic fallout may be dire, too.

Yet for many, it’s also a deeply personal moment. My grandparents, who escaped Nazi Germany on the eve of World War II, found a home in Britain — to them, it was a beacon of light and hope. But they would be heartbroken to see it today. Inward, polarized and absurdly self-aggrandizing, Britain has lost itself. In sorrow, I mourn the passing of the country that was my family’s salvation. » | Peter Gumbel* | Friday, January 1, 2021


* Mr. Gumbel is the author of “Citizens of Everywhere.”

Brexit In Effect: UK's Access to Single Market Ends

As millions around the world welcome a new year, Britain is marking the end of an era, officially ending its decades-long relationship with the European Union. The United Kingdom is no longer a member of the single market or customs union, and its new trade deal with the EU is now in effect. Al Jazeera’s Andrew Simmons reports from London on how the changes will affect people and businesses.